Have you ever bought a piece of crockery or artwork and put it on display at a very noticeable place yet people tend to not see it? Artwork left hanging on the wall may not seem attractive even when it’s magnificent.
Picture lights are a classic way of illuminating an artwork. They ensure that the artwork is in focus making it an eye-catching showpiece in the room.
To ease your pain, we have done some ground research on different products and have jotted down some of the premium products that we came across.
Our Favorite Wireless Picture Lights for Any Space
1. BIGLIGHT Wireless Operated Lighting
This is an ideal light to light up precious artworks or even a simple mirror. High-quality aluminum is used to model the arms of the picture light to ensure higher durability. This provides a 180° rotation flexibility, to ensure focus on the crucial parts of the painting and covers it completely. It consists of a 13’’ long tube light.
There are three different modes, 3000K warm light for artworks with the warm tone of colors, 8000K cool light, and 4300K natural white light that are used to provide more vibrant shades. All these make it the number one choice for picture light.
The light can be rotated to desired angles to illuminate the artwork. This ability to rotate the artwork ensures that the entire painting is covered.
Features:
- Simple installation
- Remote switch on
- Modern design
- Battery-powered
2. Rite Lite
This is an efficient picture light that has 8 LEDs which consumes a very little amount of energy compared to conventional bulbs. It works great for highlighting artworks, or photos. It has a very highly durable battery that claims to last for 10000hrs.
A rotatable head makes sure that the light bulb can be set to an appropriate angle to cover the entire painting. This LED picture light weighs very little and comes in an elegant speckle gold color making it look great along with the artwork or painting. The dimensions of the picture light are 1.2×9.4×13 inches.
Features:
- Remote controlled
- Battery operated
- Simple installation
3. WAC Lighting PL LED
This is one of the technologically advanced picture lighting that is available at justifiable rates. It uses Chrono photon technology to showcase artworks in bright ambient colors. It is capable of producing lights without UV or IR rays that harm the painting.
The bulbs are capable of producing a full spectrum of light. It has two primary options, a hardwired type with a cord or portable options so that it can be reused on multiple paintings and artwork. This picture light comes with an amazing feature to dim the light to a very low value using a dimmer.
The LED module used can be easily replaced using a substitute available in almost all places in case of an improbable case of module failure. The lamp is of brushed brass color that spans over 14x 14.5×5.13 inches.
Features:
- Simple to install
- Aesthetic design
- Lightweight and durable
4. Wireless Spotlight
This picture light is equipped with 4000K natural white glowing LED, which highlights your artwork. The most iconic feature of this device is its ability to remotely control the brightness of the LED light with minimum effort. It is equipped with a timer. The lights can be automatically turned on at predefined hours.
This ensures that you save on energy and make the most of your resources. It has a flexible head that focuses the light at the most valiant part of the painting. It weighs 10.5 ounces only and has a dimension of 5.74×4.33×3.5 inches.
Feature:
- Battery-powered
- Easy installation
- Remote control
5. Concept Lighting 202L Cordless Control
This picture light has a silver color with a final antique finish is an aesthetic piece of the lighting unit that blends in with the artwork. It’s battery-powered which uses the available energy in a very efficient way.
It spreads over 7.75×7.75×2.5 inches. The device weighs as light as 14.4 ounces and is filled with several useful features. The intensity of the light can be remotely controlled. It’s equipped with an SMD LED that provides a warm tone and has a better quality of “white light”.
This LED emits a very low level of UV rays that can be neglected. It is recommended not to keep this light on throughout the day as in the long term it may cause damage to the device and reduce the efficiency of LED lights.
Features:
- Easy installation
- Can be mounted on a wall or frame
- Battery-powered
Buyers Guide To Buying The Best Picture Light 2024
There are a lot of picture lights that claim to be perfect for your artwork and are made of premium materials. Picking the best match out of this can be a very demanding task. Some multiple aspects and factors need to be considered to pick the right light for your perfect artwork.
To help you out with this, we have covered some factors that you should look into before buying a picture light. With these complex aspects explained in layman’s terms, picking the right light frame with the help of our enlightening user guide will be a cakewalk.
Picking The Right Size
Picking the right picture frame for a beautiful artwork can be a nerve-wracking task. We have devised a simple method to ease your decision-making process.
The first step is to find the dimensions of the painting. If it’s framed, then include the frame width and height. Now, with the right dimensions, we have to decide on the right light profile. Many size charts are available online, and based on that, you can pick the right size of the lamp.
Voila, u have picked the right frame for your precious artwork.
Expert tips: If the artwork is unusually tall, pick a light frame that extends out. This ensures that light reaches the bottom of the painting.
Position A Picture Light Profesional
Even with a proper picture light, finding the sweet spot and positioning the light to cover the entire artwork requires a lot of adjustment, positioning skills, and patience. With expert tips and tricks, this time-consuming task can be done with ease.
The part of the painting at eye level is the most well-observed and appreciated part. Making sure that this part has an adequate amount of light is crucial to capture the attention of the observer. Clouding the center part will give a gloomy and dark feel to the painting.
The most common mistake committed by beginners while setting up a picture light is shining the light directly or at an extreme angle onto the artwork. Shining directly onto the artwork will result in glare.
This may make the observer feel uneasy and may not enjoy the artwork as it should be done. If positioned at extreme angles, the entire artwork may not be covered and will go unobserved.
Then what is the most righteous angle to get the results? Experts argue that an angle of about 30°will cover a moderate-size painting optimally. This angle may vary from painting to painting the portions you want to highlight the most.
Wall Mount Vs Frame Mount
Picture Light usually comes as a wall mount or frame mount. Each one has its pros and cons. The wall mount type of picture light attaches directly onto the wall. This gives a professional look but curbs on the mobility of the picture light.
The frame mount attaches to the frame of the painting. This provides more flexibility in positioning the light according to your desire. This type of mount can be adjusted to the mood and desire of the user.
Different Light Bulb Options
Most of the picture lights come with an option to pick the right bulb. Each bulb has its characteristics and affects the tone of the painting accordingly. Picking the right light bulb is crucial to ensure that the artwork gets the required glow-up and has a long life.
There are a lot of bulbs available in the market and come with various advantages and disadvantages. These are some of the basic light bulbs that are available to start.
LED light is the most recommended bulb due to its energy-saving ability. These lights have a very long life and have less maintenance cost. LEDs usually consume less amount of energy and do not emit UV rays that harm the artwork. LED with a high CRI of 70+ won’t alter the appearance of the artwork.
Incandescent lights emit a warm light that is best for artworks with red, brown, and yellow tones. They emit low levels of UV rays that may harm the painting fabrics and the texture.
Halogen bulbs have a very broad range of colors that are illuminated using halogen lights. These are usually bright white lights. They consume an average amount of energy and are a good gamble.
CFLs bulbs are very similar to incandescent bulbs use only 70% of their energy and give almost the same energy output. They emit very low levels of UV radiation.
Facts to remember: UV rays tend to damage the artwork. Using bulbs that do not emit UV rays like LED bulbs with high CRI will ensure a long life whilst saving electricity charges.
Conclusion
Artworks are a beauty in themselves be it a simple painting or a complex handicraft. A lot of time and effort is put into creating this piece of beauty. Being able to display it elegantly is a skill and can boost the beauty of the work to create a mesmerizing feel.
One of the most essential gadgets to aid in the presentation of artwork, painting, or Polaroid is a picture light. They highlight the artwork in a room, making it an eye-catching piece of art that can be appreciated by all the people in the room.
Most of the galleries spent a huge amount of revenue to buy the ap test lighting for the painting. With the advancement of technology, most of these lights come with a variety of settings to support a variety of paintings.
Some of them have different modes to control the intensity of the light according to the different times of the day. Others come with a more energy-saving approach by integrating timers into the design. The most general feature that is present in most of the picture lights is that they can produce light in different ranges of visible color.
Even with such a large variety of devices, there is not any common design that is being followed. Each light comes with remote features to provide comfort and value products are the main goals of most of these companies. Most of the designers come up with innovative methods to light the artwork. Some designers provide an option to customize their pre-existing designs.
Even with a detailed manual, it might be a demanding task to properly hang a painting and focus light on it properly. To help out with most of these common questions, these products are supported by an active forum that has the answer to most of your queries within a few clicks away.
FAQs
How high above a picture should a picture light be?
The usually recommended height is 7 inches above the frame of the picture. This provides an optimum spread of light without concentrating it on a single point and ensures that the light covers the entire painting.
Are LED lights safe for artwork?
LEDs have long lives and emit very low amounts to no UV rays. This ensures that the fabric and the paint of the artwork are not harmed. Although there are other sources like light from the sun and lightbulbs in the room that may emit radiation and cause damage. Investing in UV filters is still recommended.
Is cool light the same as daylight?
Cool light ranges from Yellow white to Blue-white light whereas daylight ranges from Blue white to Bright blue. Hence they are very similar but not the same.
Can picture lights be used for other purposes besides illuminating artwork?
Yes, picture lights can also be used to highlight other decorative items, such as mirrors, shelves, or sculptures. They can also be used as accent lighting in areas where you want to create a specific ambiance or draw attention to a particular feature in the room.
How do I determine the appropriate wattage for a picture light?
The appropriate wattage for a picture light depends on the size of the artwork and the distance between the light and the artwork. As a general rule, you can use 3-4 watts of light per linear foot of artwork. For larger pieces, you may need to increase the wattage to ensure even illumination.
Is battery-operated picture lights a good choice?
Battery-operated picture lights can be a convenient option, as they do not require any wiring or electrical outlets. They are easy to install and can be moved or adjusted easily.
However, keep in mind that battery-operated lights may not provide the same level of brightness as hardwired or plug-in options, and you will need to replace the batteries periodically.
Can I use a dimmer with my picture light?
Some picture lights are compatible with dimmers, allowing you to adjust the brightness of the light according to your preference.
When choosing a picture light, check the product specifications to see if it is compatible with a dimmer. If you decide to use a dimmer, make sure it is compatible with the type of light bulb you are using in your picture light.
Conclusion
In conclusion, investing in a picture light is an excellent way to enhance the beauty and visibility of your artwork or photographs. With various options available, choosing the right picture light can be overwhelming.
However, by considering factors such as size, positioning, mounting options, and the type of light bulb, you can find the perfect picture light to complement your artwork.
LED lights, in particular, are a popular choice due to their energy efficiency, low UV emissions, and versatility in color temperatures. By taking the time to research and understand the different features of picture lights, you can make an informed decision and showcase your artwork in the best possible light.
